Actuating mechanism



United States Patent 3,357,676 ACTUATING MEQHANISM Julius C. Boonshaft, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Weston Instruments, Inc., Newark, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 393,110 2 Claims. (Cl. 251-30) This invention relates to a very high speed actuating device and, more particularly, to a very high speed electromagnetic actuating device.

It is a broad object of this invention to provide a new and improved very high speed electromagnetic actuating device which requires a minimum of energizing power, can be economically manufactured, occupies a minimum of space, and can be adapted to perform a variety of functions.

it is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved high speed valve actuating mechanism.

These and other apparent objects are accomplished, in accordance with this invention, by providing an actuating device comprising: a movable member coupled to an armature of an electromagnet and a resilient means urging said armature toward said electromagnet. The force to be exerted by said resilient means is determined by the force to be applied against the movable member and armature in a direction away from said electromagnet, the force of the spring being suflicient to bring said armature within the field of action of said electromagnet, so that when said electromagnet becomes energized, said armature becomes attracted to said electromagnet. The electromagnet of this device is characterized by a high holding capability and very rapid demagnetization.

A complete understanding of this invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURES 13 are sectional views of a preferred form of an actuating device incorporating the principles of this invention with the device being shown in various stages of operation.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a housing defining an end portion 12 to which is secured, by suitable means such as glue, an electromagnet 16 having input terminals 18 and 20.

A movable armature generally designated as 22 is positioned inside the electromagnet 16. The armature defines a shaft portion 24 and an enlarged head portion 26 which carries an abutment shoulder 28. The end of the shaft 24 has cut away slot portions 25 thereon. A resilient member 30 is positioned between a side wall 11 of housing 18 and head portion 26 for positioning the head 26 within the field of action of the electromagnet 16 as hereinafter described. The resilient member 30 may take the form of a coiled type spring as shown on the drawing. A stop plug 13 is adjustably positioned in the wall 11 of the housing and projects inwardly into the interior of the housing 10. I

It will be appreciated that if the head 26 is spaced beyond a distance d from the electromagnet for any given size of electromagnet, the head will not be rapidly attracted to the electromagnet when energized. Consequently, the separation between the head and the electromagnet when it is deenergized must be established in order for the device to be operated. This is the purpose of resilient member 30.

A valve mechanism generally designated as 32 is shown threadedly connected to housing 10. The valve mechanism is generally comprised of a housing 34 and a shuttle piston 36 operating within the housing. Inlet and outlet ports 38 and 40 respectively are provided in I 3,357,676 Patented Dec. 12, 1967 the wall of housing 34 and communicate with a cylinder or bore 42 within which the piston 36 is movably positioned. A recessed portion 44 formed on piston 36 provides fluid communication between the ports 38 and 40 when the piston 36 assumes the position shown in FIG URE 2.

A first inlet passageway 46 connects the inlet port 38 with a restricted passageway 48. Passageway 48 in turn connects with an intermediate bore 49 and a large interior bore 50 formed in one end of piston 36. Thus, fluid flow may be established between the inlet port 38 and bore 50. This large bore 50 is also fluidly connected with an auxiliary outlet 52 by way of intermediate bore 49 and a valve opening 54 in one end of valve housing 34. The valve opening is formed within a threaded plug member 55 which permits precise longitudinal adjustment of. the valve opening.

A second inlet passageway 56 connectsthe inlet port 38 with a small interior bore 58 formed in the piston 36. The cross-sectional area of piston 36 exposed to the small interior bore 58 is less than that exposed to the large interior bore 50.

As shown in each of the figures, the housing 10 enclosing the electromagnet and armature is connected to the valve housing 34. The shaft 24 extending from the housing 10 through end plate 12 is arranged so that the end of shaft 24 is positioned within valve opening 54 thus closing the valve opening when the electromagnet is energized to move the armature to the left as shown in FIG- URE 2.

The operation of the above device is as follows: when the electromagnet 16 is energized, the armature head 26 will be attracted to the electromagnet thereby moving the armature and shaft 24 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 2. The end of shaft 24 of the armature will be moved into a position within valve opening 54 thereby blocking fluid flow between the bore 49 and auxiliary outlet 52. Fluid under high pressure entering the inlet port 38 is in communication with the large interior bore 50 by way of first inlet passageway 46, restricted passageway 48, and intermediate bore 49. The fluid inlet port 38 is also in communication with the small interior bore 58 by way of the second inlet passageway 56. Since the cross-sectional area exposed to the fluid pressure is greater in bore 50 than in bore 58, the piston 36 will move to the left to the position shown in FIGURE 2. This position of piston 36 provides a fluid connection between inlet and outlet ports 38 and 40 through the recessed portion 44 in the piston.

When energization of electromagnet 16 is discontinued, high fluid pressure, which has built up in bores 49 and 50, rapidly forces the end of shaft 24 to the right and out of the opening 54. This movement of the shaft permits rapid dumping of fluid from the bores 49 and 50 into the large auxiliary outlet 52. Since the electromagnet 16 has a characteristic of rapid demagnetization, the movement of armature 22 and shaft 24 under the force of fluid pressure is very rapid. This force of the fluid under pressure in bores 49 and 50 is sufliciently great to overcome the eflFect of spring 30 which tends to bias the armature toward a closed or energized position. The armature moves to the right until the abutment shoulder 28 engages the stop plug 13 positioned in housing wall 11 (FIGURE 3). After this sudden release of fluid pressure from bores 49 and 50, the high fluid pressure in bore 58, although acting on the smaller cross-sectional area, is now great enough to move the piston 36 to the right. This movement of the piston places the recess 44 out of communication with inlet and outlet ports 38 and 40 to close the valve.

With this depletion of pressure in bore 50 due to the sudden escape of fluid through outlet 52, the resilient member or spring 30 is then effective to move the armature 22 back to the left toward the electromagnet until the inside face of head portion 26 is positioned from the electromagnet at a distance d as shown in FIGURE 1. This precise positioning of the head 26 is determined by the strength of spring 30 and the distance d may be on the order of .010 inch.

The distance d should be small enough to insure fast movement of the armature in response to energization of the electromagnet and large enough to provide a spacing between the slotted end 25 of shaft 24 and the opening 54 sufficient to permit fluid flow through the opening 54 into outlet 52 and thereby prevent build-up of fluid pressure in bores 49 and 50.

Upon subsequent energization of electromagnet 16, the armature is rapidly moved the distance d to the left to again close the opening 54 and cause a pressure build-up in bores 49 and 50. This in turn will cause the piston 36 to move to the left as shown in FIGURE 2 to thereby open the inlet and outlet ports 38, 40 to fluid communication.

Although the actuating mechanism has been shown for use in conjunction with a valve mechanism, it is readily appreciated that it could be used with any system requir ing a fast actuating mechanism.

In addition, while a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanism for selective high speed opening and closing of a fluid passage having high-pressure fluid therein, comprising:

a passageway having a source of high-pressure fluid connected to one side thereof, and a large dumping port connected to the other side thereof,

a shaft mounted for longitudinal movement between three mutually adjustably spaced positions,

an enlarged head portion at one end of said shaft,

an electromagnet adjacent to said enlarged head portion, said electromagnet having a characteristic of rapid demagnetization,

said mechanism having a first position wherein said electromagnet is energized and said enlarged head portion is pulled into contact with said electromagnet, said shaft having a length so that in said first position, the other end of said shaft is within and closes said passageway against said high-pressure fluid,

said mechanism having a second position wherein said electromagnet is unenergized, and said shaft is forced completely clear of said passageway by said highpressure fluid and said enlarged head portion is so far removed from said electromagnet that the field of said electromagnet when energized is incapable of pulling said enlarged head portion into contact with said electromagnet against the force of said highpressure fluid, the extreme distance of said enlarged head portion from said electromagnet in said third position being determined by adjustable stop means,

a third position wherein said electromagnet is unenergized and said enlarged head is out of contact with said electromagnet but close enough so that the field of said electromagnet can pull said enlarged head into contact with said electromagnet when energized against the force of said high-pressure fluid, said shaft and said passageway being so spaced so that said shaft just clears said passageway,

adjustable spring means bearing against said enlarged head and biased to force said enlarged head and shaft into said third position from said second position.

2. A valve mechanism comprising:

a valve housing having an inlet and outlet port, and high-pressure fluid always present at said inlet port,

a shuttle piston slidably mounted within said valve housing for movement to respectively open and close said ports to fluid communication therebetween, one side of said shuttle piston having a small bore connected to said high-pressure fluid and the other side of said shuttle piston having a large bore connected to said high-pressure through a restricted passage,

a passageway having one side thereof communicating with said restricted passage, and a large dumping port connected to the other side thereof,

a shaft mounted for longitudinal movement between three mutually adjustably spaced positions,

an enlarged head portion at one end of said shaft,

an electromagnet adjacent to said enlarged head portion, said electromagnet having a characteristic of rapid demagnetization,

said mechanism having a first position wherein said electromagnet is energized and said enlarged head portion is pulled into contact with said electromag net, said shaft having a length so that in said first position, the other end of said shaft is within and closes said passageway against said high-pressure fluid, to maintain said large bore under full high-pressure and drive said shuttle piston in the direction of said small bore said mechanism having a second position wherein said electromagnet is unenergized, and said shaft isforced completely clear of said passageway by said highpressure fluid to permit said large bore to dump and said high-pressure fluid in said small bore to drive said shuttle piston in the direction of said large bore, and said enlarged head portion is so far removed from said electromagnet that the field of said electromagnet when energized is incapable of pulling said enlarged head portion into contact with said electromagnet against the force of said high-pressure fluid, the extreme distance of said enlarged head portion from said electromagnet in said third position being determined by adjustable stop means,

a third position wherein said electromagnet is unenergized and said enlarged head is out of contact with said electromagnet but close enough so that the field of said electromagnet can pull said enlarged head into contact with said electromagnet when energized against the force of said high-pressure fluid, said shaft and said passageway being so spaced so that said shaft just clears said passageway, to permit said large bore to continue to dump and said shuttle piston to remain driven in the direction of said large bore,

adjustable spring means bearing against said enlarged head and biased to force said enlarged head and shaft into said third position from said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1890 Ongley 251-30 4/1960 Kenann et al 251-l29 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1/ 1910 France.

Disclaimer and Dedication 3,357,676.-Julius U. Boonshaft, Huntingdon Vallej Pa. ACTUATING MECHANISM. Patent dated Dec. 12, 1967. isclaimer and dedication filed Feb. 4, 1970, by the assignee, Weston lnstmmnts, Inc.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to the entire remaining term of said patent and dedicates the patent to the Public.

[Oficz'al Gazette May 26, 1.970.] 

1. A MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVE HIGH SPEED OPENING AND CLOSING OF A FLUID PASSAGE HAVING HIGH-PRESSURE FLUID THEREIN, COMPRISING: A PASSAGEWAY HAVING A SOURCE OF HIGH-PRESSURE FLUID CONNECTED TO ONE SIDE THEREOF, AND A LARGE DUMPING PORT CONNECTED TO THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, A SHAFT MOUNTED FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN THREE MUTUALLY ADJUSTABLY SPACED POSITIONS, AN ENLARGED HEAD PORTION AT ONE END OF SAID SHAFT, AN ELECTROMAGNET ADJACENT TO SAID ENLARGED HEAD PORTION, SAID ELECTROMAGNET HAVING A CHARACTERISTIC OF RAPID DEMAGNETIZATION, SAID MECHANISM HAVING A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN SAID ELECTROMAGNET IS ENERGIZED AND SAID ENLARGED HEAD PORTION IS PULLED INTO CONTACT WITH SAID ELECTROMAGNET, SAID SHAFT HAVING A LENGTH SO THAT IN SAID FIRST POSITION, THE OTHER END OF SAID SHAFT IS WITHIN AND CLOSES SAID PASSAGEWAY AGAINST SAID HIGH-PRESSURE FLUID, SAID MECHANISM HAVING A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID ELECTROMAGNET IS UNENERGIZED, AND SAID SHAFT IS FORCED COMPLETELY CLEAR OF SAID PASSAGEWAY BY SAID HIGHPRESSURE FLUID AND SAID ENLARGED HEAD PORTION IS SO FAR REMOVED FROM SAID ELECTROMAGNET THAT THE FIELD OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET WHEN ENERGIZED IS INCAPABLE OF PULLING SAID ENLARGED HEAD PORTION INTO CONTACT WITH SAID ELECTROMAGNET AGAINST THE FORCE OF SAID HIGHPRESSURE FLUID, THE EXTREME DISTANCE OF SAID ENLARGED HEAD PORTION FROM SAID ELECTROMAGNET IN SAID THIRD POSITION BEING DETERMINED BY ADJUSTABLE STOP MEANS, A THIRD POSITION WHEREIN SAID ELECTROMAGNET IS UNENERGIZED AND SAID ENLARGED HEAD IS OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID ELECTROMAGNET CAN PULL SAID ENLARGED HEAD OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET CAN PULL SAID ENLARGED HEAD INTO CONTACT WITH SAID ELECTROMAGNET WHEN ENERGIZED AGAINST THE FORCE OF SAID HIGH-PRESSURE FLUID, SAID SHAFT AND SAID PASSAGEWAY BEING SO SPACED SO THAT SAID SHAFT JUST CLEARS SAID PASSAGEWAY, ADJUSTABLE SPRING MEANS BEARING AGAINST SAID ENLARGED HEAD AND BIASED TO FORCE SAID ENLARGED HEAD AND SHAFT INTO SAID THIRD POSITION FROM SAID SECOND POSITION. 